Cutler, Broncos cool off Jets

Dec 1, 2008 - 3:03 AM

By Joe Rizzo
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Despite a driving
rainstorm with miserable 40-degree temperatures, the Denver
Broncos are glad they bothered to get off their plane - even if
many of them have to limp to get back on it.

Jay Cutler threw for 357 yards and two touchdowns and rookie
Peyton Hillis ran for 129 yards and a score Sunday to lead the
injury-ravaged Broncos to a 34-17 victory over the New York Jets
in a battle of first-place teams.

Perhaps inspired by media comments and fan behavior, the
undermanned Broncos were able to hold off the Jets.

"What really got me was one of the ESPN analysts said we
shouldn't have even gotten off the plane," Hillis said.

Denver receiver Brandon Marshall said the the Broncos were
motivated after Jets' fans cheered when Denver players went down
with injuries.

"We took it personal," said Marshall, who had 55 yards on five
catches. "There were some things that rubbed us the wrong way.
It didn't help when they booed guys being down. I don't care
how many guys (it happens to). I would like to thank the Jet
fans for booing when our guys were down."

"I was just hoping guys were temporarily hurt," said Broncos
coach Mike Shanahan, who noted that only Shaw's elbow injury
appeared to be serious. "When Dre' went down I said, 'Gee, what
do we have left?' "

On one series in the third quarter, the Jets' Brett Favre
completed three straight passes to running back Leon Washington
to move the ball 60 yards to the Broncos 7-yard line and set up
Jay Feely's 30-yard field goal that closed it to 27-17.

After each of the passes to Washington, Larsen, Ekuban and Bly
all were respectively injured. As Bly lay prone near his own
goal line, frustrated Jets fans began to boo, perhaps thinking
Broncos players were feigning injury to stall New York's
momentum.

"Anything that's bothering you, you just stay on the ground,"
said Bly, a 10-year veteran. "Don't try to be Superman."

Cutler completed 27-of-43 passes with an interception and Hillis
carried 22 times as the Broncos improved to 7-5.

"Jay embraced throwing in the rain, he liked it," Shanahan said.
"He'd rather play in that than in 40- or 50-mile-per-hour
winds."

"Liked might be too strong a word," Cutler said. "But I did not
mind it. I think it has a lot to do with mind-set."

Despite their modest record, the Broncos have a stranglehold on
the AFC West, leading by the San Diego Chargers by three games
with four remaining. Their three straight road wins all have
come in the East.

"We just have to do our part and control what we can," Broncos
defensive end Elvis Dumervil said. "It's a good feeling to be
in the driver's seat."

Thomas Jones carried 16 times for 138 yards and two TDs for the
Jets (8-4), who missed a chance to pull away in the AFC East.
New York is one game ahead of the New England Patriots and Miami
Dolphins.

The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the Jets, who
had been riding high after last week's 34-13 road wipeout of the
previously unbeaten Tennessee Titans.

"It's disappointing to lose a game, regardless," Washington
said. "One thing we try to talk about all week long is not
taking the gas that everyone is trying to give to us: 'Oh the
Jets are great, we're the best team to ever play this game.' It
was good to get that humble pie after Thanksgiving."

A captivating first half featured a 50-minute first quarter, two
touchdowns that seemingly should not have been allowed, four
scores of 20 or more yards, a 100-yard rusher and 41 points.

One of the highlights in the first half was a 59-yard run by
Jones, the longest of his career.

Jones scored a TD in six straight games and went over the
1,000-yard mark for the fourth straight season overall and
second as a Jet.

But just three plays later, Cutler put the Broncos ahead to stay
with a 59-yard TD strike to Eddie Royal that made it 14-7 just
8:16 into the game.

Royal, who caught five passes for 84 yards, leads NFL rookies
with five scoring receptions.

The Jets closed the gap to 17-14, but the Broncos increased
their lead to 27-14 at the half when Hillis bulled in from the 1
with 4:29 remaining and Matt Prater banged home a 35-yard field
goal three seconds before the intermission.

Denver iced it with 9:26 left when Cutler connected with Brandon
Stokley for a 36-yard touchdown.